Conveyer



F. E. HALL 1,831,107

coNvEYER Filed Feb. s, 1930 4 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. l0, 1931.

Vbq ATTORNEY v ugh .NH

f l S1 Nov. 10, 1931. F. E. HALL. 1,831,107

c'oNvEYER Filed Feb. 5, 1930 Y 4 sheets-sheet 2 in E i Y am i Q l: w

I 3: SME t h s) i* i m s j Y Il! L Iunl H lf) 6 iiii-U 11g-1L ffm/f E f/af/ INVENTOR ATTORN F. E. HALL Nov. 10,1931.

CONVEYER Filed Feb. 3, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet `5 Ffa/7A f. /d/

INVENTOR ATTORN Nov. 10, 1931. F. E. HALL CONVEYER Filed Feb. 5. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ffa/7k inf/QU INVENTOR ,OLA

ATTORNE Patented Nov. 10, 1931 En STATES FRANK E. HALL,` OFBOIS'Ef IDAHO ooNvnY'nn n App'iieamn'fued'rebru-ary s, 1930. kserial No. 425,503.

My invention relates to oonveyersf for use in'l eating` establishments merohandising'- establishments and any and all; places Where itis found desirable to move materials, either' food" or 1nerchandise,' Aupon endless f conveyers forinspectio'n'and purohaseby patrons or forv any` other reason. Y

he invention -mfits preferredlembodnnent consists ofa power'driveniendless' conveyeri13- adaptedl for' oarryingaA serieslof displayve hiclesin; spaced relationship and in endless horizontal movement throughout a predetermined line of' movement.

"The invention consists oa power driven i: endless drivingelemenqasa cable or chain,

to vvhieliattached ai; pluralityx of vehicles upwardly"extending that` 4 are removably' secured to the :driving endless'element. The

vehiclesl havel transparent side; end and; top :i: walls. Each of? the`- side '-wallsarel adapted to being hinged* `downward -to permit'acoess into the VinteriorT of thevehiole. The vehicles a-redriven in endless vspaced*relationship thronghoL'lt-*apredetermined line of move-v ment'and thesameare-maintained in ahorizontall position throughout their travel. A

seriesfof braekets downwardly extendfrom thel endless power' driven*Y element? to- -'v'v'hieh'- a sweeper bladeisattached,` ,thei purpose be'- aA channel: 'Way that" isf developed-p'aralllel to the' line of movement'foffthe vehicles. f-M'eans are` provided fon depositing thevv elements to bemoved Within the channelways and With- .r in" theF'line oftravel ofr thefsweeper blades.

Where the `device is' to be-used` for the convey'ingand'displaying of food or: otherrmate-V rials',-` the paths of'the longitudinal move# ment of' the` vehicles are" suiliciently spaced JJ apart" to permit patronsbeing'plaeedfl therebetween,` aocessbeinghadto the vspaced spa-ce by elevated ramppreferably: passing over one'end' `of the" oonveyer. Where the'v display is beingffinadeinl a1V relatively narrowE space the lengthwisemovement is spaced apartsuf permit-of a display being icientl' yonly' to mad'et ereb'e'tween.

The objeetof my invention is-to convey'l and display' simirltaneonsly: artieles for inspeesa tion-and sale;

Af further 'object of my invention-'consists in providing fadisplay for fondiand"merohan"-y dise i in'. ai relatively Vfnarovvdisplay spaceg` the obj'e'ct lbeing tof give' a maximumleapaeity'for1 thefdisplay Vvvithi a min-imum offin'oonven= ienfee t'o the patri-onsI ywherein the? san-1e "is -to be displaye y A still@furtherA objectief my? invention een-- sists inproviding displayforooolied` foods f wherein a maximum numberfoflpaftrons' may be served simultaneously and Witha vminimum ofdelayoreaehofthe patrons.

sistsv inffprovidingmeansf for Conveying -disL play vehicles in' lior'izontal' movement fwthin' a predetermined f pathwayl past p atrons ,with`- means. 'for seating` the-*patron convenn parts, the essential `elements *of which are set forth the-appended claims',` and aupre-y ferred' form offembodiment f of Whioh is hereinafter shown Withreferen'ee to thedra'wings Wh'ieh accompany and' form a part ofthis'y specification.

Inthed'ra-Wings: Y f

-' Fig.,A 1'l isa fragmentaryflplan"view of the assembled fde'vioe; y

F'g. v 2 is a "fragmentary, sectional,k plan View of one end of' theV assembled device:

Figi 3 isla sectional, endviewgtaken'on line 3 3 of 'lf4`vig."1,` lookingf'inf the dire'etionl `indicated.

Fig. 4e is alseetionalfend'vievv@of one side only ofthe assembled device; thefsamebeing soA taken on 'line '-tfof Fig. .2,I looking in the directionindicated;Y` p l Y Figif lsa' seotlonal,l side'vl'ewof the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, the same being A the same'from the vehicles as desired.

direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a perspective, end view of one of the brackets for placement upon the endless driving element for moving the vehicles in spaced relationship therealong and to the bottom end of which a sweeper blade carrying a flexible contact is attached.

Fig. 7 is a sectional, sideview of the brack? et illustrated in Fig. 6 the same being made to illustrate the cable disposed within the bracket and the clamp for clamping the bracket to the cable. Y

Fig. 8 is a perspective, end view of one of the vehicles in which the articles to be conveyed are placed, the same being adapted for beingcarried in spaced relationship'and in endless formation upon a driving element and within a prescribed path of movement.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one end of the con veyer mechanism for conveying refuse developed along the transfer and illustrating themeans for removing the same from the conveyer system.

Fig. 10 is a top, plan view of a modified form of device primarily made to illustrate one. of my new and improved conveyer systems in use in a merchandising establishment, the same being primarily intended for use in relatively narrow display store.

Fig. 11 is a sectional, end view taken on line 11-111of Fig. 10, looking in the direction indicated. Y

' Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. l.

- In preferred embodiment my device consists of a plurality of spaced vehicles 1 adapted for being moved within a predetermined path of movement past seats 2 disposed at either side of the path of movement of the vehicles. The vehicles are spaced apart suficiently to permit the patron to view the articles disposed therein and for remo-ving i counter 3 is disposed at either side of the vehicle and between the patron and the vehicles. A channelway 3A is disposed ceiitrally of the display counter 3 which the downwardly extending arms of the vehicles are disposed. Deposit outlets 4 are disposed within the counter through which articles and refuse may be deposited by the patron and fromf the counter. The vehicles are preferably made as illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein a body element 5 is formed having upwardlyextending corner posts 6 disposed at either corner of the body element. Trans parent ends 7 are removably disposed within the corner posts and transparent side walls 8 are hingedly .securedV to the body element. The transparent side walls are composed primarily'of a sill 9 hingedly secured to the body element having the transparent element 8 disposed thereiny A transparent top 10 vside walls to absorb the shock as the saine are closed bythe reacting elements. Trunnions 14 are disposed at either corner of the vehicle for supporting the same. `A hub 15 is disposed at the lower side of each of the vehicles'and is secured thereto. A supporting tray 16 is removably disposed within each of the vehicles. Apower driven end-- less driving element 17, as a cable, is trained about. suitable sprocket wheels 18., The sprocket wheel 18 is mounted, upon a vertically disposed shaft 19. Secured to the shaft and/or to the spokes 20 Vof the sprocket wheel is a gear 21. The'gear 21 is adapted for coasting with a pinion 22. The pinion 22 is also disposed upon a vertically disposed shaft associated with the speedreducer'23. The speed reducer 23 is driven by any suitable power means as by a prime mover 24. Spaced notches 25 are disposed in the outer periphery of the sprocket wheel. The spacings are sufficiently spaced apart to receive the bracket 26 disposedupon the driven endless'conveyer element. The brackets 26 are preferably made as illustrated in Fig. 6, the same having a. platform 27 and having a stud 28 upwardly extending to forinthe engagement within the hub 15. The endless power driven conveyer element, as the cable, is, passed longitudinally through the opening 29 within the bracket. The bracket may be secured to the driven endless element by any suitable fastening means as by a threaded stud 30, the stud 30 being threaded relative to the bracket and the point 31 of the stud being pointed to engage Within the cable. 1

A locking nut 32 fiXedly positions the stud 30 relative to the bracket.y The stud 3() may be formed integral with the pin 28 that engages within the'hub 15. lVhen it is desired to remove the vehicle entirely from the driv-v ing element the saineinay be lifted off from the stud. An arm 33 downwardly extends from the brackethaving a hub 34 disposed at either vside thereof and an opening 3is disposed longitudinally of thehub. A shaft 36, as illustrated in Fig. 4 runs lo-ngitudi mate engagement with the surface. The re.

spective blades move within suitable guideways or channelways 40 as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and refuse and other` material to be moved longitudinally of the assembly may be deposited through open entrance ways 4 disposed upon the counter. The entrance way being adapted thereabout and adapted for closing the same. An inwardly sloping surface 42 permits the sliding` of the refuse and other materials into the channelway to be swept therealong. lVhere my new and improved device is to be utilized Afor the display of food and/ or merchandise the longitudinal path of movement of the vehicles is suinciently spaced apart to permit oit patrons sitting at either side of the line of travel ot' the vehicles. Where this torn ot structure is to be used, an elevated ramp 43 is disposed at one end ot the display steps 44 being disposed at either end of the. ramp to permit the patrons entrance into the space 45. There the display is to be used in relatively narrow display quarters the device may be made as illustrated in Fig. l0 wherein the longitudinal movement or" the vehicles is spaced apart sul'licient only to have a display counter 46 disposed between the longitudinal movement of the vehicles. 'When so utilized the sweeper blades secured to the brackets disposed at the lower side of the vehicles move withina channel having an entrance way 47 at one side only of the same. A pay station 48 is disposed at the entrance end 49 of the display-space and past which each of the patrons are required to go in their entr and eXit from the disolav space. fr

y l u l work room 50 may be provided at one end of the display space and the endless vehicles are required to pass through the work room for facilitating the placement oi articles to be sold or merchandised upon the vehicles as the same pass through the display space. A discharge chute 5l is disposed in the line of travel of the sweeper blades and from where the refuse and other elements are to be discharged. The same are deposited upon any suitable receptacle 52 disposed at the end of the discharge chute.

Vhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapte-d to lul- Fill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to coniine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

lVhat I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of an endless driving element, brackets removably secured to the driving element and in spaced relation with each othersprocket wheels disposed upon vertical shafts and about.which the driving element is trained, notches disposed in spaced relation about the outer periphery of the sprocket wheels adapted for receiving the bracket, disposed upon the driving element, therein, a post upwardly extending from each of the brackets, a'vehicle removably secured to the upwardly extending post, trunnion Wheels disposed at each ot the lower corners of the vehicle that act as supports for kthe vehicles, a sweeper blade disposed at the lower extremity of each of the brackets, a channelway Jfor predetermining the path of travel of the sweeperblades and a prime mover tor-driving the driving element.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ot vehicles uniformly spaced apartand removably secured to an endless driving element, a driving and a driven sprocket about which the endless driving` element is supported, the sprockets being disposed upon vertical axles, power means for driving the sprockets and the driving endless conveyor, supporting brackets disposed in uniform spaced relation upon the driving element, vehicles having trunnion supporting wheels adapted for being remoya-bly secured to the brackets and to being driven'thereby along ai predetermined path of tra-vel, a display counter disposed adjacent the line of travel of the endless driving element, a channelway disposed beneath the 'i counter, sweeper blades driven in the channelway, communicating openings disposed through the counter into the channelways and a common discharge outlet from the channelway.

3.In avdevice ot the class described, the combination of a series otvehicles disposed in spaced relation upon an endless, power driven cable, horizontally disposed sprockets about which the cable is trained, a counter disposed at either side of the cable throughout its line of travel, a channelway ldisposed in registerable alignment with the line of travel of the cable, sweeper blades secured to the cable-andezrtending into the channelway, means for depositing articles through the counter and into the channelway, and a common discharge outlet from the channelway.

4. In a devicev of the class described, the combination or" a power driven endless conveyer, means for supporting the endless conveyer in a horizontal position throughout its line of travel, a display counter disposed adjacent either side of the endless conveyor throughout its line of travel, means for supporting-articles to be displayed upon the endless conveyor, 'a channelway disposed beneathV the display counter and midway its inner and outer edge, means 'for impelling articles within the'channelway and communicating door covered openings extending through .the counter and into the channelway.

5. In a device of the class described, the

OI* las) combination of a power' driven conveying endless cable, means' for supporting the cable in a horizontal position throughout its line of travel, means for attaching vehicles in spaced relation to the cable, said vehicles having transparent top and side walls, the side walls being hingedly disposed relative to the body of the vehicle, a display table disposed adjacent the line of travel of the cable, a cliannelway having a common discharge outlet disposed beneath the display table, and means secured to the table for conveying articles within the channelway.

6. ln a device of the class described, in combination, a power driven endless driving element, brackets disposed in spaced relation upon the driving element, a stud threadably disposed in and upwardly extending from each of the brackets, a vehicle removably disposed upon each of the studs, a display counter disposed at either side of the line of travel of the vehicles, said counter-having a cliannelway disposed therethrough, Van arm having a hub therein extending downwardly vfrom each of the brackets, sweeper blades secured to each of the hubs of the arms, a channelway through which the sweeper blades travel, a plurality ci? openings dis` posed in spaced relation through the display counter and in direct communication with the last menti-cned channelway, and a discharge disposed at one end of the line of travel of the driving element.

7. i bracket to be used with a device of the class described comprising a platform, an opening disposed longitudinally therein, a threaded opening in direct communication with the irst mentioned opening, a stud threadably disposed therein, an arm downwardly extending from the platform, a hub having an opening therein made integral vith the arm and parallel to the platform, a shaft disposed within the opening of the hub, sweeper blades disposed upon the shaft, and means for maintaining the shaft centrally oic the hub.

8. A vehicle to be used with a device of the class described comprising an inclosed body element having upwardly extending posts disposed at each corner, side walls hingedly secured to the body element, an arm disposed at one end of each of the side walls, reacting means secured to the arms and Vto the body element for normally maintaining the side walls in upright position, trunnions disposed at each corner on the under side o the body element, and a hub downwardly extending from the underside of the body element.

FRANK E. HALL. 

